Support and guard for wire fences



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T. H. DODGE.

SUPPORT AND GUARD FOR-WIRE FENCES.

No. 275,607. E Patented Apr.10, 1883.

J F yf .A '5 c {J 2 Sheets-Sheet 2e (Np Model.)

T. H. DODGE.

SUPPORT ANDGUARD FOR WIRE FENGES..

No. 275.,60'7. Patented Apr. 10,1883.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. DODGE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUPPORT AND GUARD FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 275,607, dated April 10, 1883.

Application filed January 15,1883. (No modeh) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs H. DODGE, of the city and county of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Supports and Guards for Wire and Metal- Strip Fencing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a wire fence having myinvention applied thereto, as will be hereinafter described. Fig. 2 repre sents a side view of one piece or section of my said metal fence support and guard as it appears before it has been secured to the strands of wire forming the body of the fence, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of a cabled-wire fence with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 4 represents a side view of one piece or section of my said metal fence support and guard as it appears when specially made to be applied to a fence composed. of metal strips, as shown in Fig. 5, which represents a vertical section of a metal-strip fence with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 6 represents upon an enlarged scale a vertical section of one strip of the metal-strip fencing shown in Fig. 5 and a portion of the support and guard, and the points of the tool or instrument employed in closing the loop of the support and guard about the strip, as will be hereinafter described. Fig. 7 represents two of the parts shown in Fig. 6, when in the position to have the fastening tool or instrument applied thereto to close the loop of the support and guard about the metal strip. Fig.8 represents a section of the support and guard part shown in Fig. 7, before it is placed upon the rail-strip. Fig. 9 represents corresponding parts shown in Fig. 6, when the fence support and guard is made for and is applied to a strand of fence-wire instead of a metal strip. Fig. 10 represents two of the parts shown in Fig. 9, before the loop has been closed about the 'fencewire; and Fig. 11 represents one of the parts shown in Fig. 10, before placed in position upon the fence-wire, preparatory to being fastened thereon; and Fig. 12, Sheet 2, represents a side view of a section of a wire fence with my invention applied to the left half,

while the right half represents the old or common wire fence, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe the same more in detail.

The nature of my invention consists in an improved metal support and guard for wire and metal-strip fencing constructed so as to be quickly and conveniently applied or attached to the metal strips or wires of the fence, and also in the combination of such fence support and guard with the fence strips or wires, substantially as hereinafter set forth and described.

The separate strands A of wire and metalstrip fences are liable to sag, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 12, and they are liable to break, as shown in the same figure. When the wires or strips A of the fence sag, stock are liable to push their heads through between the strands and crowd through, and also break the fence. Then, again, the strands are liable to break from various causes, when the ends of the broken strand drop down, as shown in Fig. 12, right-hand end, whereas the same style of fence, when my invention has been applied thereto, will stand more secure and uniform, and the stock are not tempted to try to push through, as in the old style of fence, and, besides, when a strand breaks the ends do not drop down, as in the old style, since the supports and guards prevent such a result, as is represented in the left-hand end of Fig. 12 of the drawings. The ends of the support and guard wires may rest on the ground, as represented in Fig. 12, or they may stand above it.

I prefer to make the support and guard wires B of suitable length for application to common wire and metal-strip fences, the loops 0 being'the right distances apart to fit the strands and hold them all parallel to each other. I prefer to make loops 0 by machinery and alternately upon opposite sides ofthe wire, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and then place the support and guard wire in position to bring the open end of the loops 0 alternately upon opposite sides of the wire or strip, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, since by this arrangement a zigzag appearance is given to the wires B, thereby attracting more attention,

while at the same time their resisting power in a horizontal direction is divided more evenly upon each side of the fence. Again, when thus applied the elasticity of the fence is increased. If the support and guard wires B are made in short sections, they can be tied up in bundles of convenient size to be carried into the field, and easily distributed along the line of the fence. v

Those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs will readily perceive that the invention meets a want long felt, and that, too, in a simple and cheap manner, while the fence is rendered far more durable and effective.

The support and guard B may be made from any desired form of wire in crossseetion, and also from strips of metal, and applied as often as found useful. Two or three between each set of posts 1) D will be found very effective.

Any convenient form and style of pinchers may be used to fasten the wires B to fencestrands A, provided the ends E E oi'theirjaws are made so as to take hold to close the loops 0, as indicated in the drawings.

The supports and guards B can be easily removed t'rom one or more of the strands A by simply opening the loop 0 clasping such strand. Consequently, if itis desired to splice broken ends F F, such ends can be removed for that purpose, and, when the operation is completed, the connection be renewed without injury to the parts.

There would not be invention in applying the improvement to barbed-wire fences, nor in putting barbs upon the wires B between the loops 0 either before or after the wires had been attached to the fence-strands, mechanical skill being sufficient to accomplish this after theinvention has been shown applied to com mon wire and metal-strip fence.

Having described my invention, whatIclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is---- 1. An improved article of manufacture, a metal support and guard for wire and metalstrip fences, constructed with loops to receive and hold the fence-strands, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the body part of wire B, of loops 0, alternating from side to side, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the strands of a metallic fence, of support and guard wires secured thereto by loops closed upon said strands, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the strands of a metal fence, of support and guard wires se cured thereto by loops alternately on opposite sidesofsaid guard and support wires, the same being inclined slightly from the vertical in opposite directions between successive loops,substantially as described.

7 THOMAS H. DODGE. Witnesses:

HENRY L. MILLER, Onas. D. GAY. 

